York Region is backing a proposal from Newmarket to declare its current headquarters a heritage building.
Regional councillors expressed support Feb. 10 for the town’s plans to dedicate the York Region Administrative Centre at 17150 Yonge St. as a heritage site. Newmarket council is expected to consider a report on the idea within the next several weeks after efforts by the town's heritage committee.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said it is a worthy building to be recognized, noting its unique design by Indigenous architect Douglas Cardinal.
“It is warranted,” Scarpitti said. “The architect, Douglas Cardinal, is an incredible talent.”
The town initiated a study into the idea in March 2020. A staff report said that Archeological Research Associates found the centre, constructed in 1994, meets all three criteria for a heritage designation, including design or physical value, historical or associative value and contextual value.
“Due to its artistic architecture and prominent location, the administrative centre has become a landmark on Yonge Street, Newmarket,” commissioner of corporate services Dino Basso said in a report.
He further said that several other city halls have received such a designation, including Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton and Brantford.
Basso noted the designation would limit options to changing the building’s external appearance in the future, though would not impact internal renovations.
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor credited the town’s heritage committee for bringing the idea forward.
“It was the heritage committee at the Town of Newmarket who identified this gap and sought to recognize this important building and its heritage," Taylor said
The heritage study noted the building exemplifies a postmodern style, specifically, a Canadian Indigenous Prairie variation.
"The administrative centre displays a high degree of artistic value with its striking scale and curvilinear massing including the nature of the horizontal waving bands of stone and glass," Basso said of the study. “The designation will enhance the profile of the regional administrative centre and further establish it as a landmark on Yonge Street."
